The 10th anniversary edition of Vietnam Mountain Marathon in Sapa promises to be one of this year’s major highlights with both high quantity and quality of participants. Many of the Asian region’s most prominent trail runners will be present, albeit distributed over three different race distance categories. Starting on Friday night, we can look forward to Jeff Campbell vs Nguyen Si Hieu, Hung Hai, Sange Sherpa and Sanya Khancai on the 100km, reigning ATM Champion Arnie Macaneras vs Michael Lesniak, Mo Muller and Nguyen Minh Tuan on the 70km, and John Ray Onifa vs Kristian Joergense and Gaetan Morizur on the 50km. And then we have only mentiond the men.

Today Vietnam is one of Asia’s leading trail running countries. No other country sees several thousands of runners flocking the trails several times a year in different parts of the country. The influence Vietnam Mountain Marathon as the original international event has had cannot be underestimated. Many other events in the country took their inspiration from VMM, and Hau Ha would never have become ATM champion and the global elite runner she is today without VMM, which is held in her hometown of Sapa in the Northwest of Vietnam. A year ago, Hau Ha really caught the eye of the Asian trail world when she beat all the men on the 100km at VMM, but this year she is in a resting period following her successful European campaign over summer. Also multiple VMM race winner Quang Tran will not take part in the anniversary edition. Chances for a local runner's victory this weekend therefore rest on the shoulders of Hung Hai and Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths winner Nguyen Si Hieu, as well as Vu Thi Lan Huong and Nguyen Phuong in the women’s 100km race. But the international competition is very big.

Jeff Campbell continues his transition from 50k king to the long ultra distance and this weekend’s 100k race will be a test. Apart from the aforementioned Vietnamese aces, Thailand’s Sanya Khancai and Nepal’s Sange Sherpa will likely be showing him the ropes. If the Canadian Hong Konger can get through this one with distinction, he can go to the Asia Trail Master Championship Final with a boost of confidence. Other 100k contenders this weekend are Miklos Viczena, Tomohiro Mizukoshi and Sean Aying. In the women’s 100km, Nguyen Phuong and Vu Thi Lan Huong will likely face Hong Kong’s Man Yee Cheung, Philippines’ Cecille Wael, France’s Veronique Messina and Malaysia’s Faherina Mohd Esa for top honours.

The 70km race category has reigning ATM Champion Arnie Macaneras scheduled to go head-to-head against Poland’s Michal Lesniak. Important outsiders are Mo Muller - winner of VMM 70 last year -, Nguyen Minh Tuan - winner of VJM 70 last year - , and Trung Nguyen - also a former VJM 70 winner and surprisingly quick every time he puts his mind on a potential podium finish. Important detail for Macaneras: a race finish will give him a wild card for this year’s ATM Final in Indonesia, after already finishing Lantau 70 in March. A dangerman but inexperienced on trails is Vietnamese top marathon runner Le Van Tuan. The women’s 70km will see Singapore’s mountaineering star Vincere Zeng, with Filipino Ann Jilian Pulanco and Malaysia’s Kona Liau as additional contenders for the victory.

The 50km race could be very exciting with in-form John Ray Onifa against Kristian Joergsensen and Gaetan Morizur. Onifa has scored three impressive ATM race wins in the past two months, while Joergensen and Morizur are returning to the ATM scene for the first time this year. Given Onifa’s blistering pace of late, it would be hard to bet against him, but Joergensen is a great and experienced poker player in trail running. Let’s also not forget many other podium candidates with credentials such as Julien Petit, Chris Devoize, Godwin Mirar and Rob West. The women’s 50km will see Belgian Singaporean Vanja Cnops as the runner-to-beat.

Asia Trail Master will be reporting live from Sapa all weekend starting on Friday night on our usual channels on facebook, youtube, X and Instagram.